Parallel bars



Oct. '5', 1954 L. J. ZADROZNY 2,690,789

PARALLEL BAR Filed May 29, 1953 I V INVENTOR. Avon IZmmz/ r Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to parallel bars and more particularly to such a device which is intended for use in the field of physical therapy for the purpose of rehabilitation of disabled persons.

An object of this invention is to provide parallel bars which may be adjusted to desired heights so that they may be used with maximum efficiency for persons of different sizes and ages.

A further object of this invention is to provide such parallel bars having means for inward and outward adjustability.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an additional outside bar at each side of the said parallel bars so as to render possible the accommodation of more persons and at the same time give them a greater continuous walking distance.

By having such outside bars, it is possible for patients with several types of disabilities to use them simultaneously, thus saving time on the part of the supervisor and still further facilitating adequate supervision. For example, paraplegics can use the inside bars, while hemiplegics are using the outside bars.

A further object of this present invention is the provision of a cross bar upon the floor or platform below the parallel bars for the purpose of facilitating easy standing for patients wearing various types of long leg braces.

A still further object is the provision of curved portions upon the ends of the inside parallel bars for leading the patients from the inside to the outside bars while walking a circuit along said bars.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a parallel bar device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional end view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the said device includes a pair of parallel bars 5 and 6 each of which has at the ends thereof downwardly and rearwardly curved portions ll and 8--8, respectively.

The said bars are each mounted upon upright supporting bars 99 which are vertically slidable in sleeves l0l 0 that are carried at the ends of horizontal supporting bars IIH which extend inwardly from the outside parallel bars |2--I2.

The said horizontal bars are slidaly adjustable in sleeves l3--l3 which are carried upon the upper ends of vertical posts 14-14 that are vertically slidable in tubular inner posts I5l 5 which are, in turn, slidable in outside tubular supporting posts I6-l6 having feet ll-|1 by means of which the device may be secured upon the surface of a. suitable platform or floor.

The sleeves l3-I3 are provided with suitable clamping screws having handles l8l8 for adjustably securing the horizontal bars ll--ll in said sleeves to provide adjustability between the bars 5 and 6 so that they may be positioned at desired distances apart.

The sleeves |0l0 are also provided with screws having handles l9l9 for adjustably securing the said vertical bars to the said sleeves to provide adjustability for the bars 5 and 6 in a vertical direction so that they may be positioned at desired heights.

The inner posts |5--I5 have screws 2020 for adjustably securing the vertical posts I4I4 thereto and the outside supporting posts Iii-l6 have screws 2I-2| for adjustably securing the inner posts l5l5 thereto.

It will be understood that, by loosening the screws l8--|8, each of the bars 5 and 6 may be moved horizontally relatively to the opposite bar so that both bars may be adjusted for different distances between them. By loosening the screws l9|9, the said parallel bars 2 I2I may be adjusted for different heights above the floor or platform, as well as above the outside bars I2l2.

By loosening the screws 20-40 and 2l-2l, both parallel and outside bars may be jointly adjusted for height relatively to the floor or platform.

It will be also understood that the provision of the inner posts I5I5 will permit adjustment of the said bars from a very high position to a very low position so as to accommodate a greater range of heights for persons using the said bars and also allowing the use of the bars from sitting positions.

In order to facilitate and render safe the movements of persons from a sitting position to a standing position, when such persons are wearing long leg braces, an adjustable cross bar 22 is provided upon the surface of the platform or floor. The person, upon entering between the parallel bars, would brace his feet or wheelchair against the said cross bar while grasping the parallel bars 5 and 6 and pulling the body into standing position.

I claim:

1. A device including opposed pairs of vertical supporting posts, supporting bars horizontally slidable upon the said supporting posts, sleeves carried upon the inner ends of said supporting bars, vertical supporting bars vertically slidable in said sleeves, means for securing said bars to the sleeves in vertically adjusted positions, inner parallel bars carried upon the tops of said vertical supporting bars, and outerj'parallel bars between the outer ends of said horizontal supporting bars.

2. A device including opposed pairs of vertical supporting posts, a horizontal supporting bar horizontally adjustable on each of said supporting posts, a vertical sleeve carried upon the inner end of each of said horizontal supporting bars, vertical supporting bars vertically adjustable in each of said sleeves, a pair of inner parallel bars mounted upon the tops of said vertical supporting bars, and a pair of outer parallel bars mounted upon the outer ends of the horizontal supporting bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,137 Bathrick June 8, 1915 1,734,664 Albach Nov. 5, 1929 2,492,383 Jones Dec. 27, 1949 2,596,055 Thomas May 6, 1952 

